Unpacking the dynamics of donor-recipient issues in partnerships between local NGOs and international donor organizations: a case study of GYNED Sierra Leone

The purpose of this study was to examine the dynamics of Donor-Recipient issues in partnerships between Local NGOs and international donor organizations. The focus was on the case Study of GYNED in Sierra Leone. To achieve this aim, the study examined the specific aid localisation challenges arising in the context of the partnership between GYNED-SL and UNDP; how GYNED-SL and UNDP actors perceive ensuring equity and complementarity as a solution to localisation challenges in their partnership; the measures taken by GYNED-SL and UNDP to ensure an equitable and complementary partnership in addressing (or not addressing) donor-recipient relation challenges; the challenges that GYNED-SL and UNDP faced when implementing measures to ensure complementarity and equity and what UNDP is doing to empower GYNED-SL in its aid localisation efforts. The study was conducted as a qualitative research based on qualitative methods of data collection and analysis. The development of the study sample was done using purposive sampling. Data collection was done using semi-structured interviews conducted through the zoom platform. The data collected in the study was analysed using the thematic analysis method. The study found that the UNDP and GYNED-SL partnership was influenced by challenges such as burden of accountability and reporting and reliance on the donor (UNDP)f or resources. However, these challenges can be solved through complementarity and equitability since these two can enhance understanding and diminish suspicion. The findings also identified some implications of the measures used to ensure equity and complementarity and they include improved decision-making, enhanced collaboration, and better project outcomes for localisation. The pursuit of complementarity and equity faced hindrances such as the lack of mutual understanding, financial issues, delayed decision-making, and contradictory priorities. The results of this study are important because they add to the existing pool of knowledge about the challenges encountered in donor-recipient relations and how these challenges can be solved to realize workable partnerships. IDOs will used these findings to understand how they can enhance their partnerships with their local recipient partners. It will also be possible for local NGOs to apply the knowledge created in this study to design and improve their partnerships with their donors. The knowledge created in this study can provide the basis for policy development especially where donors and recipients are concerned. To make up for the deficiencies in the findings of this study, it is recommended that future studies should investigate the best ways of achieving complementarity and equitability in donor-recipient partnerships.